Use of clostridial methyltransferases for generating novel strains

ABSTRACT

This invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding DNA Type I methyltransferase and uses thereof for improving transformation efficiencies of exogenous and endogenous plasmid DNA into Clostridial hosts.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/209,634 filed Mar. 13, 2014, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/780,731 filed Mar. 13, 2013 the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding DNA Type I methyltransferase and uses thereof for improving transformation efficiencies of exogenous and endogenous plasmid DNA into Clostridia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Genetic manipulation of many bacterial genera can often be difficult due to host restriction systems. These systems are designed to prevent foreign DNA from stably expressing and maintaining genes (e.g., bacteriophage) that may be disadvantageous to the host. As a result, very few, if any, transformants are obtained except in those rare cases where the process methods have been highly optimized. Even highly optimized methods can produce few transformants and often the results are irreproducible due to variations in physiological parameters of the host cells.

The genus Clostridia which include species of medical and industrial importance have historically been difficult to manipulate genetically. Those that have been genetically transformed are few and the efficiencies have been low, typically limited to at most 1×10³ transformants/μg DNA in the most efficient systems (Mermelstein et al., 1993, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59:1077-1081; Allen and Blaschek, 1990, FEMS Microbiology Letters, 58:217) but more often only yield a few recombinant colony forming units (CFU). Integrative plasmids have been used with even less efficiency, typically attaining transformation frequencies no higher than 1 CFU/μg DNA. The prevailing view is that the low transformation frequencies are due to the introduced DNA being degraded during the transformation process by one or more host restriction systems. In those cases where suitable transformation efficiencies in Clostridium have been observed and shown to be reproducible, it was often due to blocking of a specific endonuclease site encoding a restriction enzyme (e.g., CacI, C. acetobutylicum).

Thus, there remains a need in the art to improve the efficiency of introducing DNA into Clostridia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to using Clostridial Type I methyltransferases to improve the efficiency of introducing DNA into solventogenic Clostridia.

In accordance with the invention, isolated polynucleotides encoding a DNA Type I methyltransferase selected from the group consisting of: a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; and (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 85% sequence identity with the polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 2 are provided.

In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a DNA Type I methyltransferase selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3; and (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 87% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide expressed from an operably-linked promoter, phosphotransacetylase-acetate kinase operon (Ppta-ack) and a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequences at least 60% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7.

In particular embodiments of the invention the polynucleotide is encoded on a methylation vector such as pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2 or pCOSMTI-12. In other particular embodiments the isolated polynucleotide is expressed from an operably-linked promoter such as Ppta-ack. In particular embodiments the methyltransferase of SEQ ID NO: 1 is expressed with a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotides 1-296 of SEQ ID NO: 5. In other embodiments the methyltransferase of SEQ ID NO: 3 is expressed with a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotides 1-296 of SEQ ID NO: 6. In yet other embodiments the methyltransferase of SEQ NO: 7 is expressed with a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotides 1-296 of SEQ ID NO: 6.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods of generating a bacterial recombinant cell expressing a DNA Type I methyltransferase having biological activities, comprising: (a) introducing a methylation vector into a bacterial host cell wherein said methylation vector expresses a DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide; and (b) introducing a transforming vector into the bacterial host cell wherein said transforming vector comprises plasmid DNA that is methylated by said methylation vector.

In particular embodiments of the invention the DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide is a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1, a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 85% sequence identity with the polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3, or a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 87% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In other particular embodiments the DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide is expressed from an operably-linked promoter such as Ppta-ack. In particular embodiments of the invention the DNA Type I methyltransferase is encoded on a methylation vector such as pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2 or pCOSMTI-12.

In particular embodiments the bacterial host cell is Escherichia coli (E. coli). In yet other embodiments, the second bacterial recipient cell is Clostridia.

In particular embodiments the method further comprises purifying and transferring the methylated plasmid DNA from the bacterial host cell to a second bacterial recipient cell that can degrade the plasmid DNA but which cannot degrade the methylated DNA.

In other particular embodiments, the methylated plasmid DNA is transferred from the bacterial host cell to a second bacterial recipient cell by transformation such as electroporation or conjugation. In particular embodiments the transformants of the methylated DNA of the second bacterial host cell comprising methylated DNA are isolated.

In particular embodiments, the methylation vector is transformed into the bacterial host cell along with a shuttle vector such as pACR-1. In other embodiments, the methylation vector is transformed into the bacterial host cell with a conjugation vector such as pACC-1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the genomic (a) and amino acid (b) sequences of Mtase I-1 Type I methyltransferase (MTI-1) identified in the C. coskatii genome sequence (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, respectively).

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the genomic (a) and amino acid (b) sequences of Mtase 1-2 Type I methyltransferase (MTI-2) identified in C. coskatii (SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, respectively).

FIG. 3 shows the genomic sequence of a methyltransferase operon expressed from the Clostridial Pptaack promoter.

FIG. 4 shows a plasmid map of methylation vector pCOSMTI-1.

FIG. 5 shows a plasmid map of methylation vector pCOSMTI-2.

FIG. 6 shows a plasmid map of doubly methylating vector pCOSMT-12.

FIGS. 7A-7B show plasmid maps of replicating vectors E. coli-Clostridium shuttle vectors pACR1 (A) and pACR1Cm (B) containing catP, encoding chloramphenicol resistance.

FIGS. 8A-8B show plasmid maps of conjugation vectors pACC-1 (A) and pACC-1T (B) containing tetR, encoding tetracycline resistance.

FIG. 9 is a Tris-Borate-EDTA gel showing the co-residency of pCOSMTI-1, pACR-1 and pCOSMTI-12, pACC-1 in E. coli using restriction analysis. The arrow at left points to a DNA standard of 1500 base pairs.

FIG. 10 shows a plasmid map of a Type II methylating control vector pCOSMTII-1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding DNA Type I methyltransferase and uses thereof for improving transformation efficiencies of exogenous and endogenous plasmid DNA into Clostridial hosts. This invention further provides plasmid vectors that employ plasmids and sequence compositions that contain homoacetogen Type I methyltransferases expressed from a homoacetogenic Clostridial promoter known to function in E. coli and solventogenic Clostridia.

Genetic manipulation of bacteria enhances the probability of generating novel strains that can be useful to commercial production processes. The transformation efficiency is significantly reduced by host endonucleases that rapidly degrade foreign DNA introduced by various methods known to those skilled in the art (e.g. electroporation, conjugation, protoplast fusion, etc.). To circumvent host defense mechanisms, one approach to enhance transformation frequency is to modify the DNA before introduction into the recipient cells so that the introduced DNA becomes recalcitrant to degradation.

The restriction modification system (R/M system) is used by bacteria, and perhaps other prokaryotic organisms to protect themselves from foreign DNA, such as the one borne by bacteriophages. Bacteria have restriction enzymes which cleave double stranded DNA at specific points into fragments, which are then degraded further by other endonucleases and exonucleases. Approximately one quarter of known bacteria possess R/M systems and of those about one half have more than one type of system. The following solventogenic Clostridia have multiple, diverse R/M systems: C. coskatii, C. autoethanogenum, C. ragsdalei, C. carboxidivorans, C. ljungdahlii.

As used herein solventogenic Clostridia includes Clostridia that have the ability to make solvents such as ethanol either directly in the metabolic pathway or by the reduction of acetate.

Modes of DNA transfer have been shown to induce restriction systems in Clostridia so as to prevent routine genetic manipulation of host strains.

Several different types of host restriction systems have been identified and characterized in Clostridium (e.g. Types I, II, III, and IV have all been observed in the genomes) and present a variation on a theme in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action. The best characterized systems are the Type II restriction systems Feyter et al. 1990, Journal of Bacteriology, 173:6421-6427; Mann et al., 1978, Gene 3:97-102) and are commercially available. These enzymes recognize a palindromic sequence and upon binding the duplex DNA in the presence of magnesium ions, digest the DNA across both strands at or very near the site of binding. The digestion can generate a blunt end or asymmetrical cleavages with 5′ or 3′ overhangs.

In contrast, DNA Type I restriction endonucleases bind the DNA at a specific recognition site on the DNA but cut at a significant distance from the recognition site. DNA Type I (EC 3.1.21.3) restriction and modification enzymes are complex multifunctional systems that require ATP, S-adenosylmethionine, and Mg²⁺ as cofactors. They catalyze the endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA to give random, bipartite, interrupted double-stranded fragments with terminal 5′-phosphates. ATP is simultaneously hydrolysed. These systems are widespread in Clostridium. The Type I restriction systems contain all the intact genes for a fully functioning restriction-modification system (specificity, methyltransferase and restriction genes) and thus are presumed to be playing an important role in exogenous DNA degradation.

DNA Type I methyltransferase as used herein is a DNA N-6 adenine methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.72). A Type I methyltransferase is an enzyme that recognizes a specific sequence and methylates one of the adenine bases in or near that sequence (Kennaway et al. 2009, Nucleic Acids Research, The structure of M.EcoKI Type I DNA methyltransferase with a DNA mimic antirestriction protein, 37(3):762-770). Foreign DNAs which are not methylated in this manner that are introduced into the host cell are degraded by sequence-specific restriction enzymes. In the present invention, the Type I methylation system comprises the protective component of the restriction-modification system. In particular embodiments of the invention, the Type I methyltransferases are expressed from a known constitutive Clostridial promoter in E. coli host strains methylating the DNA at unknown recognition sequences. The DNAs contained in solventogenic Clostridia are all AT rich (>70%) and therefore abundant targets exist for the methyltranferase activities encoded by the DNA modification enzymes described herein.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide encoding the DNA Type I methyltransferase is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 85% sequence identity with the polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3, or a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 87% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4. In other embodiments of the invention, the DNA Type I methyltransferase is encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under high stringency conditions with nucleotides 1-1446 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or its full-length complimentary strand or a polynucleotide that hybridizes under high stringency conditions with nucleotides 1-1446 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or its full-length complimentary strand.

The isolated polynucleotide encoding the DNA Type I methyltransferase can be expressed using a strong constitutive Clostridial promoter such as Pptaack. In particular embodiments, the polynucleotide expressed from an operably linked promoter is a polynucleotide having an amino acid sequences at least 60% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a polynucleotide that hybridizes under high stringency conditions with nucleotides 1-2864 of SEQ ID NO: 7 or its full-length complimentary strand.

As used herein high stringency conditions refers to conditions under which the polypeptide will hybridize to a target sequence. For example, high stringency conditions include hybridization at 50° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.25% SDS and washed 2 times in hybridization wash buffer composed of 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 65° C.

As used herein operably-linked means joined as part of the same nucleic acid molecule, suitably positioned and oriented for transcription to be initiated from the promoter. DNA operably linked to a promoter is under transcriptional initiation regulation of the promoter or in functional combination therewith.

The isolated polynucleotides encoding DNA Type I methyltransferase can be used in methods to generate a bacterial host recombinant cell expressing a DNA Type I methyltransferase having biological activities. The method comprises introducing a methylation vector into the bacterial host cell. As used herein a methylation vector is a plasmid vector containing a cloned Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide from a homoacetogenic Clostridium. Suitable methylation vectors include, but are not limited to pCOSMTI-1 (comprising a cloned MTI-1 Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide), pCOSMTI-2 (comprising a cloned MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide) and pCOSMTI-12 (comprising cloned MTI-1 and MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase polynucleotides). The sequences of the cloned Type I methyltransferase can be expressed in E. coli and Clostridia from an operably-linked Clostridial promoter, such as Pptaack, to ensure adequate methylation in both a heterologous and a recipient cell. The method further comprises introducing a transforming vector into the bacterial host cell wherein said transforming vector comprises plasmid DNA that is methylated by said methylation vector.

Suitable bacterial host cells containing the methylation vectors include but are not limited to gram negative bacteria such as E. coli and closely related Enterobacteriaceae including Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Klebsiella spp. Shigella spp. Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp. and Citrobacter spp.

The methyltransferase polynucleotides can also be expressed from a replicating broad-host range vector based on the pBBR-1 replicon, originally isolated from Bortadella bronchiseptica S87 (Antoine. and Locht. (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6(13): 1785-1799). The range of genera known to stably replicate pBBR-1-based plasmids includes representatives from Aeromonas, Acetobacter, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Azorizobium, Bartonella, Bordetella, Brucella, Caulobacter, Escherichia, Hyphomicrobium, Methylobacillus, Methylbacterium, Methylophilus, Pseudomonas. Paracoccus, Rhizobium, Rhodobacter Salmonella Vibrio and Xanthomonas.

In molecular cloning, a vector is a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry native or foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed. A vector containing foreign DNA is termed recombinant DNA. The four major types of vectors are plasmids, viral vectors, cosmids, and artificial chromosomes. Common to all engineered vectors are an origin of replication, a multicloning site, and a selectable marker.

The methylation vector and the transforming vector can be first transferred into an E. coli methylation-minus strain GM2163. Co-residing vectors in this host environment will be methylated only to the extent of Type I methyltransferase expression and sequence recognition. Cloned sequences will contain homoacetogenic Clostridial DNA so methylated sites are expected to be present. The methylation vector and the transforming vector can also be transferred into E. coli BL21, which is deficient in dcm methyltransferase activity, but contains dam methyltransferase activity. The host environment methylates at the adenine N-6 position in the sequence GATC but not at the C-5 position of cytosine in the sequence CCWGG. High frequency transformation will rely on additional modifications to the transforming DNA.

Type I DNA methylation vectors can also be transformed with general replication and conjugative vectors. For example, the bacterial host cell is transformed with a homoacetogen methylation vector, such as pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-1 or pCOSMTI-12, and an E. coli-Clostridial shuttle vector such as pACR-1 to generate a uniquely methylated transforming vector. As used herein a shuttle vector is a vector constructed so that it can propagate in two different host species. Therefore, DNA inserted into a shuttle vector can be tested or manipulated in two different cell types. For purposes of the present invention, the cell types are bacterial hosts expressing specific Type I methyltransferases that modify the DNA. The main advantage of these vectors is they can be manipulated in E. coli then used in a system which is more difficult or slower to use (e.g., other bacteria). In other embodiments the homoacetogen methylation vector, such as pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-1 or pCOSMTI-12 are transformed with a conjugation vector such as pACC-1.

In particular embodiments the transforming DNA will be integrated into the bacterial recipient cell chromosome. In gene replacement transformations, modification of the transforming vector, which may or may not contain a replicon, would benefit from the instant invention.

The methylated DNA from the transforming factor can be purified from the bacterial host cell and transferred to a recipient cell that can degrade the plasmid DNA but which cannot degrade the methylated DNA. The purified DNA can be transferred to the recipient cell by methods of transformation, such as transduction, conjugation, and electroporation. As used herein a recipient cell is a bacterial cell into which exogenous methylated DNA is introduced.

Bacterial conjugation as relates to the present invention is the natural transfer of genetic material contained on plasmids between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. It is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer as are transformation and transduction although these two other mechanisms do not involve cell-to-cell contact. As used herein a donor cell is a bacterial cell that transfers DNA by conjugation to another bacterial cell.

Electroporation or electropermeabilization, is a significant increase in the electrical conductivity and permeability of the cell plasma membrane caused by an externally applied electrical field. It is usually used in molecular biology as a way of introducing some substance into a cell, such as loading it with a molecular probe, a drug that can change the cell's function, or a piece of coding DNA such as an expression vector.

Suitable transforming vectors contain an antibiotic resistance marker for selection in both the methylating bacterial host cell and the recipient bacterial cell along with a gram-negative or gram positive replicon and the cloned MtaseI-1 or the MtaseI-2 polynucleotide. The transforming vector can also include a transposon expressed in the bacterial recipient cell.

When methylation vectors are transformed with general replication and/or conjugative vectors, the vectors can be purified and transformed together into the bacterial recipient cell for additional protection upon entry into the recipient cell. As described above, the promoter in this embodiment is the Ppta-ack, which is highly expressed in both the host and recipient cells. Alternatively, the co-residing vectors may first be separated and then only the modified transforming vector transferred to the bacterial recipient cell.

The Examples which follow are illustrative of specific embodiments of the invention, and various uses thereof. They are set forth for explanatory purposes only, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLES

Genome Sequence Analysis

Analysis of the C. coskatii genome sequence was performed using the ERGO bioinformatics suite (Integrated Genomics, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and BLASTX. The analysis revealed genes involved in a complex restriction and modification system, which includes Type I, II, and III methyltransferases. Additionally, several methyl-directed endonucleases were identified. These systems target specific DNA sequences containing methylated adenines and cytosines followed by restriction.

Strains

Clostridium autoethanogenum strain DSM10061 [Abrini J, Naveau H, Nyns E-J, Clostridium autoethanogenum, sp. Nov. an anaerobic bacterium that produces ethanol from carbon dioxide. Arch. Microbiol. 1994, 4:345-351], C. ragsdalei P11 (ATCC BAA-622) [Hunhke R L, Lewis R S, Tanner R S: Isolation and characterization of novel Clostridial species. International patent 2008, WO 2008/028055], C. coskatii PS-02 (ATCC-PTA10522) [Zahn J A, Saxena J: Novel ethanologenic clostridium species, Clostridium coskatii] US 2011/0229947, E. coli DH10B (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.; dam⁺, dcm⁺, mcrABmrr⁻), E. coli BL21 (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.; dcm⁻, dam⁺, mcrAB mrr⁺) and GM2163 (Fermentas, Vilnius; r_(k) ⁻ m_(k) ⁻) were used to differentially methylate DNA containing transforming vectors. E. coli COSMTI-1 is GM2163 containing pCOSMTI-1 and a transforming vector; E. coli COSMTI-2 is GM2163 containing pCOSMTI-2 and a transforming vector; and E. coli COSMTI-12 is GM2163 containing pCOSMTI-12 and transforming vector.

Media

E. coli was grown in LB medium which was composed of 10 g per liter tryptone, 5 g per liter of yeast extract and 10 g per liter NaCl. LB ampicillin medium was composed of LB medium containing filter sterilized 100 μg ampicillin sulfate per ml.

E. coli was grown on 2×YT agar which is composed of 16 g per liter tryptone, 10 g per liter yeast extract and 5.0 g per liter NaCl.

2×YT ampicillin (Ap), chloramphenicol (Cm), kanamycin (Kn), tetracycline (Tc), erythromycin (Em) plates were composed of 2×YT agar (1.5%) containing 100 μg (Ap), 25 μg (Cm), 50 μg (Kn), 10 μg (Tc) and 40 μg (Em) per ml of agar.

C. coskatii fermentation medium was made anaerobically from concentrated vitamin, mineral and metals stocks with the compositions shown in Tables 1 and 2a-d.

C. coskatii plating medium was composed of fermentation medium containing 5 g per liter fructose (filter-sterilized and added post autoclaving), 10 g per liter yeast extract and 15-20 g per liter agar.

TABLE 1 Fermentation Medium Compositions Components Amount per liter Mineral solution, See Table 2(a) 25 ml Trace metal solution, See Table 2(b) 10 ml Vitamins solution, See Table 2(c) 10 ml Yeast Extract 0.5 g Adjust pH with NaOH 5.8 Reducing agent, See Table 2(d) 2.5 ml

TABLE 2(a) Mineral Solution Components Concentration (g/L) NaCl 80 NH₄Cl 100 KCl 10 KH₂PO₄ 10 MgSO₄•7H₂O 20 CaCl₂•2H₂O 4

TABLE 2(b) Trace Metals Solution Components Concentration (g/L) Nitrilotriacetic acid 2.0 Adjust the pH to 6.0 with KOH MnSO₄•H₂O 1.0 Fe(NH₄)₂(SO₄)₂•6H₂O 0.8 CoCl₂•6H₂O 0.2 ZnSO₄•7H₂O 1.0 NiCl₂•6H₂O 0.2 Na₂MoO₄•2H₂O 0.02 Na₂SeO₄ 0.1 Na₂WO₄ 0.2

TABLE 2(c) Vitamin Solution Components Concentration (mg/L) Pyridoxine•HCl 10 Thiamine•HCl 5 Riboflavin 5 Calcium Pantothenate 5 Thioctic acid 5 p-Aminobenzoic acid 5 Nicotinic acid 5 Vitamin B12 5 Mercaptoethanesulfonic acid 5 Biotin 2 Folic acid 2

TABLE 2(d) Reducing Agent Components Concentration (g/L) Cysteine (free base) 40 Na₂S•9H₂O 40

Example 1 Identification and Characterization of Methyltransferase MTI-1

MTI-1 Type I Methyltransferase was identified as part of a 7.33 kb operon containing the restriction subunits (R), specificity (S) and methylation (M) genes. The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) of the Clostridium coskatii MTI-1 Type I methyltransferase are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The MTI-1 coding sequence is 1419 bp including the stop codon. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of MTI-1 Type I methyltransferase were compared to protein sequences using BLASTX. The best match was to a Type I N-6 methyltransferase from C. ragsdalei (98% identity); other proteins with significant sequence identity were the N-6 DNA methyltransferase from Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 ZP05395073.1 (86% identity) and to an N-6 adenine-specific DNA-methyltransferase from Clostridium cellulovorans 743B YP 003842639.1 (85% identity). The major protein motif was to hsdM-adoMET over about 75% of the translated protein.

Example 2 Identification and Characterization of Methyltransferase MTI-2

MTI-2 Type I Methyltransferase was identified as part of a 6.887 kb operon containing the restriction subunits (R), specificity (S) and methylation (M) genes. The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) of the Clostridium coskatii MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The coding sequence is 1446 bp including the stop codon. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase were compared to protein sequences using BLASTX. The best match was to a Type I N-6 methyltransferase from Clostridium Maddingley (87% identity) ZP 11365985.1. The major protein motif was hsdM-adoMET over the majority of the translated protein.

Example 3 Synthesis and construction of methyltransferase MTI-1 vectors

The 1419 bp open reading frame encoding MTI-1 along with a 296 bp promoter region Pptaack and 227 bp downstream of the gene were synthesized. The coding sequence was operably linked to the Pptaack promoter region and included a standard ribosome-binding site located 12 bp upstream from the translational start site. This promoter has been shown to be constitutively expressed at high levels in E. coli using promoterless antibiotic resistance genes. Gene synthesis was performed by Life Technologies/Gene Art Josef-Engert Str. II 93053 Regensburg Germany. The methyltransferase sequences were amplified by high-fidelity PCR, constructed in E. coli replicating vectors, subcloned and end-ligated to remove any overhangs to generate a clean sequence. After construction of the complete 1.942 kp expression cassette the sequence was verified using an ISO 9001:2008-certified quality management system and Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzers. Synthesized expression DNA containing the MTI-1 polynucleotide was ligated into a M19-pUC-based vector with suitable engineered sites at the 5′ end for downstream cloning and was designated pAC80. To allow co-residency with pMB1 replicons, the 1.942 kb MTI-1 cassette was released by HindIII digestion of pAC80, gel purified using the Qiaex kit (Qiagen, Hilden Germany) and ligated to calf-alkaline phosphotased pACYC184 that was previously digested with HindIII. Ligation mixtures were electroporated into competent E. coli DH10B host cells. Recombinant clones were selected on 2×YT agar plates containing tetracycline (5 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (25 μg/ml). Recombinants were screened with HindIII for the inserted MTI-1 expression cassette sequence. The final methyltransferase construct is shown in FIG. 4 and was designated pCOSMTI-1.

Example 4 Synthesis and Construction of Methyltransferase MTI-2 Vectors

The 1446 bp open reading frame encoding MTI-2 along with the 296 bp promoter region and 233 bp downstream from the MTI-2 gene were synthesized. The coding sequence was operably linked to the Pptaack promoter as described in Example 3. Gene synthesis was performed by Life Technologies/Gene Art Josef-Engert Str. II 93053 Regensburg Germany. After construction of the complete 1.975 kp expression cassette the sequence was verified using an ISO 9001:2008-certified quality management system and Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzers. Synthesized DNA was subcloned into a M19/pUC-based vector with suitable engineered sites at the 5′ end for later cloning steps. This vector was designated pAC82. As described in Example 3, to allow co-residency with pMB1 replicons, the 1.975 kb cassette containing the Pptaack-MTI-2 polynucleotide in pAC82 was digested with BamHI and ligated to calf-alkaline phosphotased pACYC184 previously digested with the same enzyme. Clones were initially selected on 2×YT agar plates supplemented with chloramphenicol (25 μg/ml) and counter-selected on tetracycline (5 μg/ml) plates to verify sensitivity. Recombinant E. coli clones that displayed chloramphenicol resistance and tetracycline sensitivity were screened further by restriction analysis. Clones were screened using BamHI, HindIII and EcoRI and those that displayed the predicted restriction pattern confirmed the cloned Pptaack-MTI-2 cassette and were used in later experiments. The construct is shown in FIG. 5 and was designated pCOSMTI-2.

Example 5 Synthesis and Construction of Methyltransferase pCOSMTII-1 Vector

The 1671 bp open reading frame encoding C. coskatii MTII-1 (identified as greater than 90% DNA sequence conserved in C. autoethanogenum, C. ljungdahlii, and C. ragsdalei) along with a 296 bp promoter region (Ppta-ack) and 231 bp downstream of the C. coskatii gene were synthesized. The coding sequence was operably linked to the Pptaack promoter region and included a standard ribosome-binding site located 12 bp upstream from the translational start site as described above for the other Type I methyltransferase expression vectors. Gene synthesis was performed by Life Technologies/Gene Art Josef-Engert Str. II 93053 Regensburg Germany as described previously. The methyltransferase sequences were amplified by high-fidelity PCR, constructed in E. coli replicating vectors, subcloned and end-ligated to remove any overhangs to generate a clean sequence. After construction of the complete 2.198 kp expression cassette the sequence was verified using an ISO 9001:2008-certified quality management system and Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzers. Synthesized expression DNA containing the MTII-1 polynucleotide was ligated into a M19-pUC-based vector with suitable engineered sites at the 5′ end for downstream cloning and was designated pAC81. To allow co-residency with pMB1 replicons, the 2.198 kb MTII-1 cassette was released by HindIII digestion of pAC81, gel purified using the Qiaex kit (Qiagen, Hilden Germany) and ligated to calf-alkaline phosphotased pACYC184 that was previously digested with HindIII. Ligation mixtures were electroporated into competent E. coli DH10B host cells. Recombinant clones were selected on 2×YT agar plates containing tetracycline (10 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (50 μg/ml). Recombinants were screened with HindIII for the inserted MTII-1 expression cassette sequence. The final methyltransferase construct is shown in FIG. 10 and was designated pCOSMTII-1.

Example 6 Construction of pCOSMTI-12

Vector pCOSMTI-12 is an E. coli replicating vector containing both MTI-1 and MTI-2 Clostridial Type I methyltransferases expressed from an operably-linked Clostridial promoter. Vector pCOSMTI-12 was generated using pAC80 and pAC82 as source DNA. A HindIII site located immediately downstream of the MTI-1 ORF was used as the cloning site for insertion of the MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide. Vector pAC80 was digested with HindIII (Fermentas, Vilnius) and the 5′ ends dephosphorylated with fast calf alkaline phosphatase (Fermentas, Vilnius) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After enzyme digestion, the dephosphorylated vector was purified using the Qiaex kit. Vector pAC82 was digested with HindIII to release the 1.715 kb MTI-2 polynucleotide and gel purified using the Qiaex kit. After gel purification, the MTI-2 polynucleotide was ligated to pAC80 using rapid T4 DNA ligase (Fermentas, Vilnius) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Ligation mixtures were purified using isopropanol precipitation (at 0.8 volume) at −20° C. for 1 hour, centrifuged at room temperature at 12,000×g in a microfuge, and followed by a 70% ethanol wash to dry the DNA. Ligated DNA was resuspended in 10 μl of Tris buffer, pH 8.0. Electrocompetent E. coli DH10B was transformed with 1 μl of the ligation mix at 2.5 kV and transformants were selected on 2×YT agar plates for tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance as described in Example 5. A control dephosphorylation reaction using calf-alkaline phosphatased-pAC80 was performed since the inserted DNA did not generate a selectable phenotype. Tetracycline- and chloramphenicol-resistant transformants were screened after plasmid miniprep purification using the Fermentas GeneJet kit. Recombinant vectors were screened by restriction digestion using BamHI and HindIII and confirmed clones were used in later experiments. Additionally, all recombinant vectors used for transformation experiments were sequence verified. The final construct is shown in FIG. 6 and was designated pCOSMTI-12.

Example 7 Construction of Broad-Host Range Methyltransferase Vectors

Methyltransferase genes are also cloned into a broad-host range vector to expand the range of hosts from which plasmid DNA can be retrieved and electrotransformed and mobilized into Clostridial hosts. For cloning the MTI-1 polynucleotide into the broad-host range plasmid pBBR1 an EcoRI digestion is performed on pAC80 to release the MTI-1 “cassette” containing Ppta-ack operably linked to the MTI-1 polynucleotide and ligated to EcoRI-digested pBBR1 using T4 DNA ligase (Fermentas), which is dephosphorylated with calf-alkaline phosphatase using 1 unit of phosphatase for 10 minutes. The ligation proceeds for 10 minutes using rapid DNA ligase and the ligation mixture is purified using the Qiaex kit. One microliter of the ligation mixture is used to transform E. coli DH10B with selection for chloramphenicol resistance. Recombinant plasmids are identified after replica patching onto 2×YT agar medium containing chloramphenicol or thiamphenicol (25 μg per ml of agar) and kanamycin sulfate (50 μg per ml agar). E. coli strains which display a thiamphenicol-resistant, kanamycin-sensitive phenotype are purified and further characterized by restriction digestion and sequencing for confirmation. One such plasmid, pBBRMTI-1, can be used in transformation and conjugation experiments.

For cloning the MTI-2 polynucleotide cassette into pBBR1, a similar procedure is used except the methyltransferase cassette is released from pAC82 using PstI and cloned into a unique PstI site on a modified pBBR-1. The PstI site is made unique by previously releasing a 1.240 kb PstI fragment containing the entire kanamycin resistance gene and surrounding sequences and religating the large 4.060 kb fragment to form ΔKnpBBR1. Plasmid ΔKnpBBR1 is digested with PstI and dephosphorylated with calf alkaline phosphatase and ligated to a 1.975 kb PstI fragment containing the MTI-2 cassette including the Pptaack from pAC82. The ligation proceeds for 10 minutes using rapid DNA ligase and is purified using the Qiaex kit. Transformation of E. coli DH10B cells is performed using 1 μl ligation mixture with selection on 2×YT agar medium containing thiamphenicol at 25 μg/ml 2×YT agar medium. Thiamphenicol-resistant strains are screened by restriction digestion using PstI. After restriction digestion screening of ten colonies and sequence confirmation across the MTI-2 gene six such plasmids are isolated and designated pBBRMTI-2. One such plasmid is used in transformations and conjugations.

For cloning both MTI-1 and MTI-2 Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide located on pCOSMTI-12 and operably linked to Ppta-ack, a BamHI digest of pCOSMTI-12 is performed to release a 3.657 kb fragment. The fragment is blunted using T4 DNA polymerase (Fermentas) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Plasmid pBBR1 is digested with SmaI and dephosphorylated with calf-alkaline phosphatase as described above. The 3.657 kb Type I methyltransferase gene cassette is gel purified and ligated to SmaI-digested pBBR1 using rapid T4 DNA ligase. Ligation mixtures are purified and transformed into electrocompetent E. coli DH10B cells and selected on 2×YT agar plates containing thiamphenicol (25 μg per ml 2×YT agar). Candidate recombinants are replica patched onto 2×YT medium containing kanamycin at 50 μg per ml agar and incubated overnight at 37° C. Strains that displayed a Thiamphenicol-positive, kanamycin-sensitive phenotype are further analyzed by restriction digestion and sequencing. Putative recombinants are digested with BamHI and PstI and analyzed on a 0.8% agarose gel (1×TAE buffer). Four such recombinants containing the entire 3.657 kb methylatransferase cassette are confirmed and designated pBBRMTI-12 and will be used in transformation and conjugation experiments.

Example 8 Construction of Shuttle Vector pACR-1

Vector pACR-1 is an E. coli-Clostridium shuttle vector containing cross-functional replicons and antibiotic markers. Vector pUC19 was digested with SalI and dephosphorylated with calf-alkaline phosphatase as described in previous Examples. After enzymatic treatment the plasmid DNA was precipitated with isopropanol (0.6-1.0 volume) and placed at −20° C. for 1 hour. DNA was pelleted at 12,000×g for 10 minutes in a minicentrifuge and washed with ice cold 70% ethanol and dried. The DNA pellet was resuspended in 30 μl of Tris buffer pH 8.0. A 1.730 kb SalI-PstI fragment contained on a pMB1 replicating vector (pGEM T easy, Promega, Madison Wis.) containing replicon repL and an erythromycin resistance gene (an origin of replication and antibiotic resistance gene that both function in Clostridia) originally derived from pE194 (Weisblum et al., 1979, Journal of Bacteriology, Plasmid copy control: Isolation and characterization of high-copy-number mutants of plasmid pE194, 137:635-643) was ligated to pUC19 using rapid T4 DNA ligase. After transformation and selection, vectors were screened and confirmed by restriction analysis and sequencing junction regions. This general E. coli-Clostridium shuttle vector was designated pACR1 (FIG. 7A). Alternative antibiotic selection markers were generated by cloning separately tetracycline (originally derived from pACYC184), chloramphenicol (originally derived from pACYC184) and kanamycin (originally derived from Tn5) resistance genes expressed from a clostridial promoter (Psadh), into unique sites located in the multiple cloning region contained in the vector. After purification, ligation mixtures were transformed into DH10B electrocompetent E. coli with selection for dual antibiotic resistance. This generated a series of versatile selection vectors based on the repL origin and dual Clostridium antibiotic selection markers along with erythromycin resistance, which has been successfully used in a wide variety of Clostridia (pACR1Cm, FIG. 7B).

Example 9 Construction of Conjugation Vector pACC-1

Vector pACC-1 is an E. coli-Clostridium conjugative vector containing mobilization and origin of transfer genes from RP4 and cross-functional antibiotic selection markers expressed from a Clostridial promoter. Plasmid pARO190 (Parke D, 1990, Gene, Construction of mobilizable vectors derived from plasmids RP4, pUC18 and pUC19 93(1): 135-137) was used as the starting vector since it contains the basis for mobilization region and origin of transfer (BOM) along with a convenient multiple cloning site. Plasmid pARO190 was digested with SalI and dephosphorylated with rapid calf alkaline phosphatase for 10 minutes at 37° C. After enzymatic treatment, the vector was purified by Qiaex kit and resuspended in 30 μl Tris buffer pH 8.0. One μl of this (˜50 ηg) was used in dephosphorylation control tests. Additionally, pARO190 has the lacZα complementation fragment so blue/white screening was used in the initial cloning step. The 1.730 kb fragment containing repL and the erythromycin resistance gene (Em) was released with SalI, gel purified and ligated to Sail-digested dephosphorylated pARO190 using T4 DNA ligase for 10 minutes at room temperature. After terminating and purifying the ligation reaction with the Qiaex kit, the ligation mixture was resuspended in 30 μl of Tris buffer pH 8.0. One μl of ligation mixture was electroporated into DH10B electrocompetent cells and plated on 2×YT agar containing ampicillin at a concentration of 100 μg per ml agar medium. The blue-white indicator X-gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside) was added to the 2×YT agar at a final concentration of 20 μg per ml to screen for plasmids containing inserts. After purifying plasmids from five white colonies, restriction analysis was performed to verify insertion of the repL-Erm genes. Sequencing was also performed using the mp19/pUC19 universal and reverse primers that span the multiple cloning region to confirm the integrity of the cloned sequence. This construct was designated pACC-1 (FIG. 8A).

To impart additional cross-functional antibiotic resistances and generate a series of versatile E. coli-Clostridium conjugative vectors additional antibiotic resistance markers were ligated into pACC-1 in the multiple cloning site as described in Example 6. In all cases, the antibiotic resistance markers were expressed from a strong clostridial promoter, Psadh, and were cloned into either the EcoRI, BamHI, or XbaI sites. The antibiotic resistance marker cassettes were released using the appropriate enzyme from pGEM T easy-cloned PCR products, gel purified using a Qiaex kit and ligated to dephosphorylated pACC-1 using rapid T4 DNA ligase. After ligation and purification, the mixture was electroporated into electrocompetent DH10B cells with selection on ampicillin and the selectively expressed antibiotic. Vector pACC-1 containing the TcR gene expressed from a clostridial promoter is shown in FIG. 8B. In those cases where replication was not desirable (i.e., generation of a conjugative suicide vector) the 1.730 kb repL-Em cassette was deleted from the appropriate pACC-1-based vector using SalI and religated using T4 DNA ligase. These vectors were also modified to contain homologous DNA for integration into the host chromosome.

Example 10 Transformation of the Methylation Vectors into E. coli

Vector constructs pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-12, were transformed into E. coli host strains with varying restriction-modification systems. Genotypically R/M variable, commercial strains contain one or more mutations in the four R/M systems known to exist in E. coli. E. coli DH10B (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.) contains mutations in the mcrABmrr and hsd systems. E. coli BL21 contains mutations in the dcm system. E. coli DH5α-e is positive for all systems except the hsdB system. E. coli ER2275 has a similar genotype as DH10B with regard to its restriction-modification systems. E. coli strain GM2163 is R/M negative.

Vectors pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-12, and pCOSMTII-1 (as control) were separately electrotransformed into E. coli BL21, DH10B, DH5α-e, GM2163 and ER2275 using 0.1 cm gap cuvettes maintained at 4° C. and 20 μl of cells with selection on 2×YT agar plates containing chloramphenicol at 25 μg per ml of agar.

Example 11 Generation of E. coli Methyltransferase Strains for Testing in Clostridia spp.

The E. coli host strains BL21, DH10B, DH5α-e, GM2163 and ER2275 containing the methylation vectors, pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-12, pMTII-1 were made electrocompetent according to the method described in Sambrook et al (In: Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 1987. J. Sambrook, E. F. Fritsch, T. Maniatis. Sambrook, J.). Vectors pACR-1 and the pACC-1 series are compatible with vectors pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-12, pMTII-1 and can co-reside in the same cell with appropriate antibiotic selection (FIG. 9). FIG. 9 shows co-residency of two such co-resident vector E. coli strains containing pCOSMTI-12 and pACR-1 and pCOSMTI-12 and pACC-1ET. After electrotransformation and purification of vectors from four different E. coli hosts a 1.2% Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE, pH 8.0) gel was run to resolve vectors after restriction digestion with BamHI or HindIII. E. coli DH10B was transformed with pACR-1 only, with pACR-1 in a host containing pCOSMTI-12, with pACC-1 in a host already containing pMTI-1 and with a host already containing pCOSMTI-12. These strains were selected on 2×YT agar containing either ampicillin (100 μg per ml) only or ampicillin (50 μg per ml) in combination with tetracycline (10 μg per ml). BamHI-digested plasmid from an E. coli strain containing only pACR-1 showed one large bright band (FIG. 9, lane 1). Plasmid DNA digested with HindIII from E. coli containing pACR-1 and pCOSMTI-12 (FIG. 9, lane 2) showed the expected 1.942 kb fragment containing the Ppta-MTI-1 cassette. As expected, the 1.942 kb band is much less bright than pACR-1, since the methylation vector is approximately 1/40^(th) the copy number of pACR-1. Plasmid DNA digested from E. coli co-residing pACC-1 and pCOSMTI-1 was digested with BamHI and the expected 1.942 kb band containing the Ppta-MTI-1 cassette was observed along with the larger remaining parts of the vectors (FIG. 9, lane 3). Digesting plasmid DNA from the E. coli host containing pACC-1 and pCOSMTI-12 with HindIII yielded the expected bands of 1.446 kb and 0.225 kb from the methylating vector pCOSMTI-12 along with the remaining parts of the vectors (compressed in the TBE gel). These bands were also significantly less bright than the conjugative vector pACC-1.

These results as well as others consistent with these data observed in the other E. coli R/M variable hosts described in Example 8 confirmed the stable co-residency of the Type I methyltransferase containing vectors with the general replication and conjugative vectors. All these E. coli host strains served as the source for differentially methylated plasmid DNA for electrotransformation or conjugative transfer into recipient Clostridial host strains.

Example 12 Electrotransformation of C. autoethanogenum with Type 1-Methylated Plasmid DNA

Transformation experiments were performed in order to determine the effects of methylated DNA on gene transfer and stable replication in C. autoethanogenum and other solventogenic Clostridia. Plasmid DNA was quantified and desalted using 100 kDa UF filters (Millipore, Bedford Mass.) and a 40-fold volume of 10 mM Tris buffer pH 8.0. For each electrotransformation 1-3 μg of DNA was used and transferred to an ice-cold 0.2 cm gap cuvette containing 50 μl of electrocompetent C. autoethanogenum, C. ragsdalei and C. coskatii previously frozen at −80° C. according to the method described by Leang et al. (Leang et al. 2012, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Epub ahead of print 30 Nov. 2012) with minor modifications. Cells were maintained in SMP buffer (270 mM sucrose, 1 mM MgCl₂, 7 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.1) with 15% DMSO added when stored at −80° C. until use.

Electrocompetent cells were prepared from single colony isolates grown on fermentation medium (Tables 1 and 2) containing 0.5% fructose and 10 g per liter yeast extract. Cells were initially grown in 5 ml of fermentation medium in anaerobic Balch tubes with a headspace of N₂CO₂H₂ (80:15:5) for 48 hours and transferred three times in 150 ml serum bottles containing 20 ml fermentation medium containing 40 mM DL-threonine with a consistent gas phase. Cells were harvested anaerobically at early and mid-log phase of growth (OD₆₀₀ nm 0.3 to 0.7) at 3225×g for 20 minutes, washed with SMP buffer 2 times and concentrated 100-fold before freezing. Competent cells were rapidly frozen in an alcohol bath maintained at −80° C. For electrotransfer into competent Clostridial cells 1 μg of methylated DNA was added and mixed. Electroporation was carried out in a Bio-rad Excel electroporator (Bio-rad, Hercules Calif.) set to 25 μF, 600Ω, 1.5-2.5 kV. After electroshock, cells were immediately resuspended in warmed fermentation medium and transferred to anaerobic Balch tubes containing 4 ml fermentation medium for recovery overnight. The next day, after some perceptible change in OD was observed, cells were pelleted at 10,000×g in a microfuge and plated on fermentation medium agar supplemented with 0.5% fructose and the appropriate antibiotic for selection of transformants. Control experiments using unmethylated DNA were performed alongside experiments using DNA methylated with the two Clostridial Type I methylation vectors and a control Type II methyltransferase expression vector, pCOSMTII-1.

Example 13 Gene Transformation of Wild-Type C. autoethanogenum Using Type I-Methylated DNA

Electroporation experiments were performed to determine whether methylated DNA would increase DNA transformation frequency above levels observed with unmethylated DNA. E. coli XL1-Blue strains were electrotransformed with the E. coli-Clostridium shuttle vector pACR1 and either pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTI-12, or pCOSMTII-1 to generate a series of co-residing plasmid vector strains. Selection for co-residing plasmids in E. coli was done on LB agar medium (Sambrook et al. 1989) containing erythromycin at 50 μg/ml and tetracycline at 10 μg/ml. After overnight growth at 37° C. on the selective medium, three individual colonies were grown in liquid medium and screened by restriction analysis to confirm co-residency of the methylating vector and the E. coli-Clostridium shuttle vector. After confirmation of stable plasmid co-residence a large-scale culture was made to generate DNA for electrotransformation into wild-type C. autoethanogenum. The C. coskatii methyltransferases contained in plasmids pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2 and pCOSMTII-1 were used in electrotransformations of Clostridium as described in Examples 10 and 11. An E. coli host strain containing replicating pACR1 only was used as an unmethylated DNA control. Electroporations without any added plasmid DNA additions acted as negative DNA controls.

Table 3. shows the results of gene transfer experiments using plasmids pCOSMTI-1, pCOSMTI-2, pCOSMTII-I and pACR1. pACR1 alone showed a transformation frequency of about 135 CFU/μg. When Type I methyltransferase MTI-1 was used to methylate pACR1 a slightly higher number of CFU/μg was observed (Table 3). Using DNA methylated by MTI-2 showed an almost 10-fold increase in transformation frequency (Table 3). The Type II methyltransferase MTII-1 didn't show any difference in transformation frequency when compared to the unmethylated DNA control vector, pACR1.

Plasmid CFU/plate DNA(μg)^(a) Frequency^(b) pACR1 325 3  135 CFU/μg pCOSMTI-1 384 3  160 CFU/μg pCOSMTI-2 3201 3 1333 CFU/μg pCOSMTII-1 285 3  118 CFU/μg ND — 0 0 ^(a)represents the total amount of shuttle vector and methylating vector DNA; ^(b)represents the total CFU generated from transfer and replication of shuttle vector only.

Example 14 Transfer of Type I-Methylated DNA into C. autoethanogenum and Other Solventogenic Clostridia by Conjugation

The effect of methylated DNA on conjugal transfer was tested with and without using the helper E. coli strain S-17 containing pACC-1ET and pCOSMTI-12, pACC-1ET and pCOSMTI-1 and pACC-1ET and pCOSMTI-2 separately to test for the individual contributions of the methyltransferases on conjugal gene transfer efficiency. E. coli S-17 contains chromosomal functions that assist in the conjugal transfer of DNA in a bi-parental mating. This has been shown to improve conjugal transfer up to 5-10 fold versus using a triparental mating scheme. In those cases where a more variable methylation pattern was desired, tri-parental matings were performed with an E. coli helper strain, E. coli pCOSMTI-12 and the Clostridial recipient host. Once the E. coli strains were confirmed to contain stable co-resident vectors in the S-17 cells, conjugation experiments were performed. C. autoethanogenum was grown in anaerobic fermentation medium as described in Example 10. Before the filter mating procedure, the culture was transferred three times at early log phase (OD 600 nm 0.3) before harvesting and mixing with E. coli. For conjugations, E. coli was grown in LB medium with maintenance levels of ampicillin and tetracycline (10 μg per ml ampicillin and 1 μg per ml tetracycline) to an OD_(600nm) of 0.5. C. autoethanogenum and other solventogenic Clostridia were grown to an OD_(600nm) of between 0.3 and 0.7 when mixed with an equal volume of E. coli based on cell counts. If the optical densities were slightly different from previously established cell counts relating to cells/ml of broth the volumes were adjusted accordingly. Mixtures of cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 1000×g and resuspended in liquid medium at an equivalent OD of 5 and plated on previously sterilized 0.22 μM filters (Millipore) on fermentation medium agar or RCM (Difco, Becton Dikinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) agar. Matings were allowed to proceed for 24 hours at 37° C. in an anaerobic jar (Oxoid) with an N₂CO₂H₂ (80:15:5) headspace. After 24 hours incubation, the cells were harvested into 1 ml of fermentation medium and dilutions up to 10³-fold were spread onto fermentation agar containing 0.5% fructose containing 10 μg per ml tetracycline for selection of the Clostridium and 2 μg per ml nalidixic acid and trimethoprim to counterselect E. coli. Conjugation frequencies were calculated and compared to experiments using unmethylated DNA.

SEQ ID NO: 1: Polynucleotide sequence of MtaseI-1 ATGAATACACAGGAAATAGTAAGCAAACTTTGGAACCTTTGTAACGTACTAAGAGA TGATGGAATAACTTATCATCAATATGTAACAGAATTAACATATATTCTTTTCTTAAA GATGGCAAAGGAAACAGGTACAGAGGATAAATTGCCAGAAGGTTATAGATGGGAT GATTTAAAAGTTTATAGAGGAATGGAACTTAAGAAATTTTATAATAAATTATTAAAT TATCTTGGAGAAAAGACTACTGGGATAGTGCAAAAAATATATCAGGGATCTGCAAC AAATATAGAAGAACCAAAAAATCTAGAAAAAATAATTAAAACTATAGATGGATTAG ATTGGTATTCAGCAAAAGAAGAAGGACTTGGAAACTTATATGAAGGATTACTTGAA AAAAATGCATCTGAGAAAAAATCTGGTGCAGGACAATACTTTACTCCAAGAGTATT AATTAATGTTATGGTGGAACTTATTGATCCAAAACCAGGTGAAAAATGCAATGACCC TGCAGCAGGAACCTTTGGATTTATGATTGCTGCAGATCGTTACATGAAACAGAAAAC AGACAACTATTTTGATTTAGGTACAGAACTTCAAGAGTTTCAGAGAACTAAGGCTTT TTCTGGCTGTGAATTAGTTCACGAAACACATAGATTAGCCCTTATGAATGCTATGCT TCATGATATAGAAGGAAACATAATCCTCGGAGATACTTTAACAAATACAGGAAAGC AGATGAAAGACTTAAATGTTGTGCTTTCAAACCCTCCATTTGGAACTAAAAGAGGTG GTGAAAGAGCAACAAGAGATGATTTGACTTACATGACTTCAAATAAACAATTAAAC TTCTTGCAGCACATATATAGAAGTTTAAAAGCAGATGGAAAAGCAAGAGCAGCTGT GGTATTGCCAGATAATGTACTATTTGATCATAATGATGGAGCGAAGATTCGTGCGGA TTTAATGGATAAATGTAATCTACATACAATATTACGGTTACCTACTGGTATTTTCTAT GCTAAAGGAGTTAAAACAAATGTGCTTTTCTTTACTAGAGGTACTAGTGATAAAGAC AATACTAAAGAAGTTTGGATATATGATTTGCGTACCAATATGCCTAGCTTTGGAAAG ACAAATCCTTTAAAGAAAGAGCATTTTGAAGACTTTATAAAGGCTTATACTTCTGAG GATAGAACAAAGGTGAAAGATGAACGTTTTTCGGTATTTACTAGAGAAGAAATAAA AGAGAAAAATGATAACCTTGACCTAGGTTTAATTCGTGATGAAAGTGTATTAGACTA TGAAGATCTACAAGATCCAATTGAAAGTGGTGAAGAAATAACTTCACAACTTGAAG AGGCAATGGATTTAATCCAAACTGTTGTAAAGAAACTAAAGATTTTAGGCGGTGAC AGGTAA SEQ ID NO: 2: Amino acid sequence of MtaseI-1. M N T Q E I V S K L W N L C N V L R D D G I T Y H Q Y V T E L T Y I L F L K M A K E T G T E D K L P E G Y R W D D L K V Y R G M E L K K F Y N K L L N Y L G E K T T G I V Q K I Y Q G S A T N I E E P K N L E K I I K T I D G L D W Y S A K E E G L G N L Y E G L L E K N A S E K K S G A G Q Y F T P R V L I N V M V E L I D P K P G E K C N D P A A G T F G F M I A A D R Y M K Q K T D N Y F D L G T E L Q E F Q R T K A F S G C E L V H E T H R L A L M N A M L H D I E G N I I L G D T L T N T G K Q M K D L N V V L S N P P F G T K R G G E R A T R D D L T Y M T S N K Q L N F L Q H I Y R S L K A D G K A R A A V V L P D N V L F D H N D G A K I R A D L M D K C N L H T I L R L P T G I F Y A K G V K T N V L F F T R G T S D K D N T K E V W I Y D L R T N M P S F G K T N P L K K E H F E D F I K A Y T S E D R T K V K D E R F S V F T R E E I K E K N D N L D L G L I R D E S V L D Y E D L Q D P I E S G E E I T S Q L E E A M D L I Q T V V K K L K I L G G D R SEQ ID NO: 3: Polynucleotide sequence of Mtase I-2. ATGTCAATAACAAACGTAGTAAAATCAGTACAAGATATAATGCGCCAGGATGCAGG GGTAGATGGAGATGCTCAAAGAATATCTCAACTAGTTTGGATGATATTTTTAAAGGT ATTTGATGCAAAAGAAGAGGAATGGGAATTAGAGTATGATGATTATACACCTATTA TTCCAGAAGAATTGAGATGGAGCAACTGGGCTCAAGATGATGAAGGAATTACAGGC GATGAGCTTTTAGACTTTGTAAACAATAAATTATTCAAAGGTTTAAAGGAAATGGAA GTAGATGAGAATAGTGATGCTAAAGCTTTATTAGTTAAATCTGTATTTGAAGATTCC TATAATTATATGAAATCAGGAGCTTTAATGAGGCAGGTAATAAATAAGTTAAATGA AATAGATTTTACAGCAGGTGAAGACAGACATTTATTTAATGATATATATGAAAATAT ATTAAAAGATCTTCAAAGTGCAGGCAATGCAGGAGAATTCTATACACCAAGACCTG TTACACAATTTATAATAGATATGCTAAGTCCAAAGCTTGGTGAAAAAGTAGCTGACT TTGCTTGTGGTACCGGTGGATTTTTAACATGTGCCATAGAAAACTTAAAAAAACAGG AAACCAAAGTTGAAGATTTAAAAATATTAGGTGAAACCATAATGGGTGTAGAAAAG AAACCGCTTCCTCACATGCTTGCTACAACTAACCTGATACTTCATGATATTGATGTGC CAAACATAAAACATGATAATTCTTTGATGAAGAATGTAAGAGATTTAAAGCCTTCAG AATATGTGGATGTAATAGCAATGAATCCTCCTTTTGGCGGAATTGAAGAAGATATGG TACTAACTAATTTCCCTCAGCAGTTTCAAACAAAAGAAACAGCAGATTTATTTATGA CTCTTATAATGTATAGATTAAGTGAAAAAGGAAGAGCGGGAGTAGTACTTCCAGAT GGATTTTTATTTGGTGAAGGTGTAAAGACTCATATAAAAGAAAAACTTTTAAATGAA TTTAACCTTCATACTATAGTAAGAATGCCTAATGGAGTATTTGCCCCATATACGGGA ATAAATACAAACCTTTTATTCTTTGAAAAAGGTAAGCCAACAGAAGAAGTTTGGTTC TTTGAACATCCACTTCCTGAAGGATATAAAAATTATACTAAAACCAAACCAATAAGA TATGAAGAATTTGAACTGGAGAAGAAGTGGTGGAATAACAGAGAAGAAAATGAGT ATGCGTGGAAGGTTTCAGTAGAGGACATTAAAAATAGAAATTATAATTTAGATTATA AAAATCCTAATAAGGAAGAAGAAGATTTAGGAGATCCAAAGGCATTATTAAAAAAA TATCATGAAGCTGCTGCTGATGTAGATAAATTGCAAGATTCTTTGATAGATGAATTA AAGAAGATTTTAGAAGGGACATCAAAATAG SEQ ID NO: 4: Amino acid sequence of Mtase I-2. M S I T N V V K S V Q D I M R Q D A G V D G D A Q R I S Q L V W M I F L K V F D A K E E E W E L E Y D D Y T P I I P E E L R W S N W A Q D D E G I T G D E L L D F V N N K L F K G L K E M E V D E N S D A K A L L V K S V F E D S Y N Y M K S G A L M R Q V I N K L N E I D F T A G E D R H L F N D I Y E N I L K D L Q S A G N A G E F Y T P R P V T Q F I I D M L S P K L G E K V A D F A C G T G G F L T C A I E N L K K Q E T K V E D L K I L G E T I M G V E K K P L P H M L A T T N L I L H D I D V P N I K H D N S L M K N V R D L K P S E Y V D V I A M N P P F G G I E E D M V L T N F P Q Q F Q T K E T A D L F M T L I M Y R L S E K G R A G V V L P D G F L F G E G V K T H I K E K L L N E F N L H T I V R M P N G V F A P Y T G I N T N L L F F E K G K P T E E V W F F E H P L P E G Y K N Y T K T K P I R Y E E F E L E K K W W N N R E E N E Y A W K V S V E D I K N R N Y N L D Y K N P N K E E E D L G D P K A L L K K Y H E A A A D V D K L Q D S L I D E L K K I L E G T S K SEQ ID NO: 5: Pptaack + Mtase I-1 TGATTGATTATTTATTTTAAAATGCCTAAGTGAAATATATACATATTATAACAATAA AATAAGTATTAGTGTAGGATTTTTAAATAGAGTATCTATTTTCAGATTAAATTTTTGA TTATTTGATTTACATTATATAATATTGAGTAAAGTATTGACTAGCAAAATTTTTTGAT ACTTTAATTTGTGAAATTTCTTATCAAAAGTTATATTTTTGAATAATTTTTATTGAAA AATACAACTAAAAAGGATTATAGTATAAGTGTGTGTAATTTTGTGTTAAATTTAAAG GGAGGAAAATGAATACACAGGAAATAGTAAGCAAACTTTGGAACCTTTGTAACGTA CTAAGAGATGATGGAATAACTTATCATCAATATGTAACAGAATTAACATATATTCTT TTCTTAAAGATGGCAAAGGAAACAGGTACAGAGGATAAATTGCCAGAAGGTTATAG ATGGGATGATTTAAAAGTTTATAGAGGAATGGAACTTAAGAAATTTTATAATAAATT ATTAAATTATCTTGGAGAAAAGACTACTGGGATAGTGCAAAAAATATATCAGGGAT CTGCAACAAATATAGAAGAACCAAAAAATCTAGAAAAAATAATTAAAACTATAGAT GGATTAGATTGGTATTCAGCAAAAGAAGAAGGACTTGGAAACTTATATGAAGGATT ACTTGAAAAAAATGCATCTGAGAAAAAATCTGGTGCAGGACAATACTTTACTCCAA GAGTATTAATTAATGTTATGGTGGAACTTATTGATCCAAAACCAGGTGAAAAATGCA ATGACCCTGCAGCAGGAACCTTTGGATTTATGATTGCTGCAGATCGTTACATGAAAC AGAAAACAGACAACTATTTTGATTTAGGTACAGAACTTCAAGAGTTTCAGAGAACT AAGGCTTTTTCTGGCTGTGAATTAGTTCACGAAACACATAGATTAGCCCTTATGAAT GCTATGCTTCATGATATAGAAGGAAACATAATCCTCGGAGATACTTTAACAAATACA GGAAAGCAGATGAAAGACTTAAATGTTGTGCTTTCAAACCCTCCATTTGGAACTAAA AGAGGTGGTGAAAGAGCAACAAGAGATGATTTGACTTACATGACTTCAAATAAACA ATTAAACTTCTTGCAGCACATATATAGAAGTTTAAAAGCAGATGGAAAAGCAAGAG CAGCTGTGGTATTGCCAGATAATGTACTATTTGATCATAATGATGGAGCGAAGATTC GTGCGGATTTAATGGATAAATGTAATCTACATACAATATTACGGTTACCTACTGGTA TTTTCTATGCTAAAGGAGTTAAAACAAATGTGCTTTTCTTTACTAGAGGTACTAGTG ATAAAGACAATACTAAAGAAGTTTGGATATATGATTTGCGTACCAATATGCCTAGCT TTGGAAAGACAAATCCTTTAAAGAAAGAGCATTTTGAAGACTTTATAAAGGCTTATA CTTCTGAGGATAGAACAAAGGTGAAAGATGAACGTTTTTCGGTATTTACTAGAGAA GAAATAAAAGAGAAAAATGATAACCTTGACCTAGGTTTAATTCGTGATGAAAGTGT ATTAGACTATGAAGATCTACAAGATCCAATTGAAAGTGGTGAAGAAATAACTTCAC AACTTGAAGAGGCAATGGATTTAATCCAAACTGTTGTAAAGAAACTAAAGATTTTA GGCGGTGACAGGTAA SEQ ID NO: 6: Pptaack + MtaseI-2 GATCCTGATTGATTATTTATTTTAAAATGCCTAAGTGAAATATATACATATTATAACA ATAAAATAAGTATTAGTGTAGGATTTTTAAATAGAGTATCTATTTTCAGATTAAATTT TTGATTATTTGATTTACATTATATAATATTGAGTAAAGTATTGACTAGCAAAATTTTT TGATACTTTAATTTGTGAAATTTCTTATCAAAAGTTATATTTTTGAATAATTTTTATTG AAAAATACAACTAAAAAGGATTATAGTATAAGTGTGTGTAATTTTGTGTTAAATTTA AAGGGAGGAAAATGTCAATAACAAACGTAGTAAAATCAGTACAAGATATAATGCGC CAGGATGCAGGGGTAGATGGAGATGCTCAAAGAATATCTCAACTAGTTTGGATGAT ATTTTTAAAGGTATTTGATGCAAAAGAAGAGGAATGGGAATTAGAGTATGATGATT ATACACCTATTATTCCAGAAGAATTGAGATGGAGCAACTGGGCTCAAGATGATGAA GGAATTACAGGCGATGAGCTTTTAGACTTTGTAAACAATAAATTATTCAAAGGTTTA AAGGAAATGGAAGTAGATGAGAATAGTGATGCTAAAGCTTTATTAGTTAAATCTGT ATTTGAAGATTCCTATAATTATATGAAATCAGGAGCTTTAATGAGGCAGGTAATAAA TAAGTTAAATGAAATAGATTTTACAGCAGGTGAAGACAGACATTTATTTAATGATAT ATATGAAAATATATTAAAAGATCTTCAAAGTGCAGGCAATGCAGGAGAATTCTATA CACCAAGACCTGTTACACAATTTATAATAGATATGCTAAGTCCAAAGCTTGGTGAAA AAGTAGCTGACTTTGCTTGTGGTACCGGTGGATTTTTAACATGTGCCATAGAAAACT TAAAAAAACAGGAAACCAAAGTTGAAGATTTAAAAATATTAGGTGAAACCATAATG GGTGTAGAAAAGAAACCGCTTCCTCACATGCTTGCTACAACTAACCTGATACTTCAT GATATTGATGTGCCAAACATAAAACATGATAATTCTTTGATGAAGAATGTAAGAGAT TTAAAGCCTTCAGAATATGTGGATGTAATAGCAATGAATCCTCCTTTTGGCGGAATT GAAGAAGATATGGTACTAACTAATTTCCCTCAGCAGTTTCAAACAAAAGAAACAGC AGATTTATTTATGACTCTTATAATGTATAGATTAAGTGAAAAAGGAAGAGCGGGAGT AGTACTTCCAGATGGATTTTTATTTGGTGAAGGTGTAAAGACTCATATAAAAGAAAA ACTTTTAAATGAATTTAACCTTCATACTATAGTAAGAATGCCTAATGGAGTATTTGC CCCATATACGGGAATAAATACAAACCTTTTATTCTTTGAAAAAGGTAAGCCAACAGA AGAAGTTTGGTTCTTTGAACATCCACTTCCTGAAGGATATAAAAATTATACTAAAAC CAAACCAATAAGATATGAAGAATTTGAACTGGAGAAGAAGTGGTGGAATAACAGA GAAGAAAATGAGTATGCGTGGAAGGTTTCAGTAGAGGACATTAAAAATAGAAATTA TAATTTAGATTATAAAAATCCTAATAAGGAAGAAGAAGATTTAGGAGATCCAAAGG CATTATTAAAAAAATATCATGAAGCTGCTGCTGATGTAGATAAATTGCAAGATTCTT TGATAGATGAATTAAAGAAGATTTTAGAAGGGACATCAAAATAG SEQ ID NO: 7: Pptaack-MTI-12 TGATTGATTATTTATTTTAAAATGCCTAAGTGAAATATATACATATTATAACAATAA AATAAGTATTAGTGTAGGATTTTTAAATAGAGTATCTATTTTCAGATTAAATTTTTGA TTATTTGATTTACATTATATAATATTGAGTAAAGTATTGACTAGCAAAATTTTTTGAT ACTTTAATTTGTGAAATTTCTTATCAAAAGTTATATTTTTGAATAATTTTTATTGAAA AATACAACTAAAAAGGATTATAGTATAAGTGTGTGTAATTTTGTGTTAAATTTAAAG GGAGGAAAATGAATACACAGGAAATAGTAAGCAAACTTTGGAACCTTTGTAACGTA CTAAGAGATGATGGAATAACTTATCATCAATATGTAACAGAATTAACATATATTCTT TTCTTAAAGATGGCAAAGGAAACAGGTACAGAGGATAAATTGCCAGAAGGTTATAG ATGGGATGATTTAAAAGTTTATAGAGGAATGGAACTTAAGAAATTTTATAATAAATT ATTAAATTATCTTGGAGAAAAGACTACTGGGATAGTGCAAAAAATATATCAGGGAT CTGCAACAAATATAGAAGAACCAAAAAATCTAGAAAAAATAATTAAAACTATAGAT GGATTAGATTGGTATTCAGCAAAAGAAGAAGGACTTGGAAACTTATATGAAGGATT ACTTGAAAAAAATGCATCTGAGAAAAAATCTGGTGCAGGACAATACTTTACTCCAA GAGTATTAATTAATGTTATGGTGGAACTTATTGATCCAAAACCAGGTGAAAAATGCA ATGACCCTGCAGCAGGAACCTTTGGATTTATGATTGCTGCAGATCGTTACATGAAAC AGAAAACAGACAACTATTTTGATTTAGGTACAGAACTTCAAGAGTTTCAGAGAACT AAGGCTTTTTCTGGCTGTGAATTAGTTCACGAAACACATAGATTAGCCCTTATGAAT GCTATGCTTCATGATATAGAAGGAAACATAATCCTCGGAGATACTTTAACAAATACA GGAAAGCAGATGAAAGACTTAAATGTTGTGCTTTCAAACCCTCCATTTGGAACTAAA AGAGGTGGTGAAAGAGCAACAAGAGATGATTTGACTTACATGACTTCAAATAAACA ATTAAACTTCTTGCAGCACATATATAGAAGTTTAAAAGCAGATGGAAAAGCAAGAG CAGCTGTGGTATTGCCAGATAATGTACTATTTGATCATAATGATGGAGCGAAGATTC GTGCGGATTTAATGGATAAATGTAATCTACATACAATATTACGGTTACCTACTGGTA TTTTCTATGCTAAAGGAGTTAAAACAAATGTGCTTTTCTTTACTAGAGGTACTAGTG ATAAAGACAATACTAAAGAAGTTTGGATATATGATTTGCGTACCAATATGCCTAGCT TTGGAAAGACAAATCCTTTAAAGAAAGAGCATTTTGAAGACTTTATAAAGGCTTATA CTTCTGAGGATAGAACAAAGGTGAAAGATGAACGTTTTTCGGTATTTACTAGAGAA GAAATAAAAGAGAAAAATGATAACCTTGACCTAGGTTTAATTCGTGATGAAAGTGT ATTAGACTATGAAGATCTACAAGATCCAATTGAAAGTGGTGAAGAAATAACTTCAC AACTTGAAGAGGCAATGGATTTAATCCAAACTGTTGTAAAGAAACTAAAGATTTTA GGCGGTGACAGGTAATGTCAATAACAAACGTAGTAAAATCAGTACAAGATATAATG CGCCAGGATGCAGGGGTAGATGGAGATGCTCAAAGAATATCTCAACTAGTTTGGAT GATATTTTTAAAGGTATTTGATGCAAAAGAAGAGGAATGGGAATTAGAGTATGATG ATTATACACCTATTATTCCAGAAGAATTGAGATGGAGCAACTGGGCTCAAGATGATG AAGGAATTACAGGCGATGAGCTTTTAGACTTTGTAAACAATAAATTATTCAAAGGTT TAAAGGAAATGGAAGTAGATGAGAATAGTGATGCTAAAGCTTTATTAGTTAAATCT GTATTTGAAGATTCCTATAATTATATGAAATCAGGAGCTTTAATGAGGCAGGTAATA AATAAGTTAAATGAAATAGATTTTACAGCAGGTGAAGACAGACATTTATTTAATGAT ATATATGAAAATATATTAAAAGATCTTCAAAGTGCAGGCAATGCAGGAGAATTCTA TACACCAAGACCTGTTACACAATTTATAATAGATATGCTAAGTCCAAAGCTTGGTGA AAAAGTAGCTGACTTTGCTTGTGGTACCGGTGGATTTTTAACATGTGCCATAGAAAA CTTAAAAAAACAGGAAACCAAAGTTGAAGATTTAAAAATATTAGGTGAAACCATAA TGGGTGTAGAAAAGAAACCGCTTCCTCACATGCTTGCTACAACTAACCTGATACTTC ATGATATTGATGTGCCAAACATAAAACATGATAATTCTTTGATGAAGAATGTAAGAG ATTTAAAGCCTTCAGAATATGTGGATGTAATAGCAATGAATCCTCCTTTTGGCGGAA TTGAAGAAGATATGGTACTAACTAATTTCCCTCAGCAGTTTCAAACAAAAGAAACA GCAGATTTATTTATGACTCTTATAATGTATAGATTAAGTGAAAAAGGAAGAGCGGG AGTAGTACTTCCAGATGGATTTTTATTTGGTGAAGGTGTAAAGACTCATATAAAAGA AAAACTTTTAAATGAATTTAACCTTCATACTATAGTAAGAATGCCTAATGGAGTATT TGCCCCATATACGGGAATAAATACAAACCTTTTATTCTTTGAAAAAGGTAAGCCAAC AGAAGAAGTTTGGTTCTTTGAACATCCACTTCCTGAAGGATATAAAAATTATACTAA AACCAAACCAATAAGATATGAAGAATTTGAACTGGAGAAGAAGTGGTGGAATAACA GAGAAGAAAATGAGTATGCGTGGAAGGTTTCAGTAGAGGACATTAAAAATAGAAAT TATAATTTAGATTATAAAAATCCTAATAAGGAAGAAGAAGATTTAGGAGATCCAAA GGCATTATTAAAAAAATATCATGAAGCTGCTGCTGATGTAGATAAATTGCAAGATTC TTTGATAGATGAATTAAAGAAGATTTTAGAAGGGACATCAAAATAG SEQ ID NO: 8: Amino acid sequences of MTI-12 M N T Q E I V S K L W N L C N V L R D D G I T Y H Q Y V T E L T Y I L F L K M A K E T G T E D K L P E G Y R W D D L K V Y R G M E L K K F Y N K L L N Y L G E K T T G I V Q K I Y Q G S A T N I E E P K N L E K I I K T I D G L D W Y S A K E E G L G N L Y E G L L E K N A S E K K S G A G Q Y F T P R V L I N V M V E L I D P K P G E K C N D P A A G T F G F M I A A D R Y M K Q K T D N Y F D L G T E L Q E F Q R T K A F S G C E L V H E T H R L A L M N A M L H D I E G N I I L G D T L T N T G K Q M K D L N V V L S N P P F G T K R G G E R A T R D D L T Y M T S N K Q L N F L Q H I Y R S L K A D G K A R A A V V L P D N V L F D H N D G A K I R A D L M D K C N L H T I L R L P T G I F Y A K G V K T N V L F F T R G T S D K D N T K E V W I Y D L R T N M P S F G K T N P L K K E H F E D F I K A Y T S E D R T K V K D E R F S V F T R E E I K E K N D N L D L G L I R D E S V L D Y E D L Q D P I E S G E E I T S Q L E E A M D L I Q T V V K K L K I L G G D R M S I T N V V K S V Q D I M R Q D A G V D G D A Q R I S Q L V W M I F L K V F D A K E E E W E L E Y D D Y T P I I P E E L R W S N W A Q D D E G I T G D E L L D F V N N K L F K G L K E M E V D E N S D A K A L L V K S V F E D S Y N Y M K S G A L M R Q V I N K L N E I D F T A G E D R H L F N D I Y E N I L K D L Q S A G N A G E F Y T P R P V T Q F I I D M L S P K L G E K V A D F A C G T G G F L T C A I E N L K K Q E T K V E D L K I L G E T I M G V E K K P L P H M L A T T N L I L H D I D V P N I K H D N S L M K N V R D L K P S E Y V D V I A M N P P F G G I E E D M V L T N F P Q Q F Q T K E T A D L F M T L I M Y R L S E K G R A G V V L P D G F L F G E G V K T H I K E K L L N E F N L H T I V R M P N G V F A P Y T G I N T N L L F F E K G K P T E E V W F F E H P L P E G Y K N Y T K T K P I R Y E E F E L E K K W W N N R E E N E Y A W K V S V E D I K N R N Y N L D Y K N P N K E E E D L G D P K A L L K K Y H E A A A D V D K L Q D S L I D E L K K I L E G T S K SEQ ID NO: 9: Polynucleotide sequence of MTII-1. ATGCATAAGTGGCGTGATTTATCTATACTTGGAGAAATGTATGAAAGATCAATGGAA AAGGAAGAAAGAAAACGGAAGGGGAGTTTTTATACTCCTCATTACATAGTTGACTA TATAGTGAAGAATATTATGTCAAATTTAGATCTTAAAAAAAATCCTTTTATAAAAGT ATTAGATCCTTCTTGTGGAAGTGGATATTTTCTAGTAAGAGTATACGAAATTTTAAT GGAAAAGTTCAGTCAAAATTTAGAGCACATTAGAAATACTTTTAACGATAAAACTTA TACCATTGAAACTGAAGATGGATTAAAGAGTATAGACGGATTTCACTATTGGCAGC AGGAAAATTTAAGCTTTCATATATTAAAGAAATGTATATATGGTGCAGATATAGACA GCATCGCTGTAGAGCTTACAAAAATTAATTTAAGTAAAGTCAGTGGTATAAACATTA ATATGGAGGACAATATCATATGCTGCAACAGTCTTATAAAGTGGAATCAAATTGATA ATGTAGAAAAATATAAGGAATCTAATATTCAATCTGTTGTTAAGTTTTGGAACACAA AATATGATTATGTACTGGGGAATCCTCCTTGGGTATCTTTAAGTCGAAAGAATAAGA TGAATATAGAGGATGGATTGTTAAAGTATTATAGTGAAAATTATAATGGAAATACAT ATTTACCTAATTTGTATGAGTATTTTATAAAAAGGTCTATGGAAATATTAAAGCCGG GAGGAAGATTTGGATTTGTAGTTCCTGATAGGCTGTCACGAAATCTTCAATACAGTG AACTTAGAAAGAGTTTACTTGAAAATTATAATATATTAAATCTTGTGTTTGAGATAG ATTTTCCGGAAATAAACACAGATTCTATGATTATGATAGCAGAAAATAAACATAGA AAAGTAAATAAAATAGAAATAGATATTTATAAGAAGAGGACATATGAAATGTATCA GCATGAATATCTGAGAAATTCAAAATTTAAGTTTACATATTGTTGTTATAATCAAAA CTTAAGCATAAAGGATTGTATAGAGAAAAATAGCAGCAAATTAAAAAGCATTTCCA AGACTTTTACAGGATTTATAGGTTATAGTAAAAAAATAACTCCTGTTAAAAAAAATC AACATCAGGTTGAAGTATTAAAAGGGGAAAATATAAAAAAGTTTCGAGTTTTAAAC AATTACTATTATGATTTTGTGCCTGAAAACATAATAGGCGGAACTAAAAATATAGAA AAACTTACTTTTAAAAATAAATTAGTAATAAGGAAAACTGGAAAAAATTTAATAGC AGCTTTAGATGATAAGGGACGTATAATAGAACAATCTCTATATGGAATAATAAGTA CAAATGAGGAATTTTCACCTCAGTATATTTTGGCAATATTGAATTCAGAGTTAATTC AATGGTATTATTTAAATTTTTTAATTACCAACTCTAATTCTATTCCACAAATTAAAAA ATGCAATTTGGATGAAATACCAATAAGACATTGCAGCAGACAAGCTAAAGAAGACA TAGAAAAATTAGTTTGCAAAATTATAAATGATAATGATCAAAAAAATATGTTGAAG AAAATATTAGATGATGAGATATTTGAATTATATAATATTGATCATAATTATAGAAGA ATTATATTAAATGATATTGAAAATAA SEQ ID NO: 10: Amino acid sequence of MTII-1. M H K W R D L S I L G E M Y E R S M E K E E R K R K G S F Y T P H Y I V D Y I V K N I M S N L D L K K N P F I K V L D P S C G S G Y F L V R V Y E I L M E K F S Q N L E H I R N T F N D K T Y T I E T E D G L K S I D G F H Y W Q Q E N L S F H I L K K C I Y G A D I D S I A V E L T K I N L S K V S G I N I N M E D N I I C C N S L I K W N Q I D N V E K Y K E S N I Q S V V K F W N T K Y D Y V L G N P P W V S L S R K N K M N I E D G L L K Y Y S E N Y N G N T Y L P N L Y E Y F I K R S M E I L K P G G R F G F V V P D R L S R N L Q Y S E L R K S L L E N Y N I L N L V F E I D F P E I N T D S M I M I A E N K H R K V N K I E I D I Y K K R T Y E M Y Q H E Y L R N S K F K F T Y C C Y N Q N L S I K D C I E K N S S K L K S I S K T F T G F I G Y S K K I T P V K K N Q H Q V E V L K G E N I K K F R V L N N Y Y Y D F V P E N I I G G T K N I E K L T F K N K L V I R K T G K N L I A A L D D K G R I I E Q S L Y G I I S T N E E F S P Q Y I L A I L N S E L I Q W Y Y L N F L I T N S N S I P Q I K K C N L D E I P I R H C S R Q A K E D I E K L V C K I I N D N D Q K N M L K K I L D D E I F E L Y N I D H N Y R R I I L N D I E N * SEQ ID NO: 11: Ppta-ack-MTII-1. TGCCTAAGTGAAATATATACATATTATAACAATAAAATAAGTATTAGTGTAGGATTT TTAAATAGAGTATCTATTTTCAGATTAAATTTTTGATTATTTGATTTACATTATATAA TATTGAGTAAAGTATTGACTAGCAAAATTTTTTGATACTTTAATTTGTGAAATTTCTT ATCAAAAGTTATATTTTTGAATAATTTTTATTGAAAAATACAACTAAAAAGGATTAT AGTATAAGTGTGTGTAATTTTGTGTTAAATTTAAAGGGAGGAAA ATGCATAAGTGGCGTGATTTATCTATACTTGGAGAAATGTATGAAAGATCAATGGAA AAGGAAGAAAGAAAACGGAAGGGGAGTTTTTATACTCCTCATTACATAGTTGACTA TATAGTGAAGAATATTATGTCAAATTTAGATCTTAAAAAAAATCCTTTTATAAAAGT ATTAGATCCTTCTTGTGGAAGTGGATATTTTCTAGTAAGAGTATACGAAATTTTAAT GGAAAAGTTCAGTCAAAATTTAGAGCACATTAGAAATACTTTTAACGATAAAACTTA TACCATTGAAACTGAAGATGGATTAAAGAGTATAGACGGATTTCACTATTGGCAGC AGGAAAATTTAAGCTTTCATATATTAAAGAAATGTATATATGGTGCAGATATAGACA GCATCGCTGTAGAGCTTACAAAAATTAATTTAAGTAAAGTCAGTGGTATAAACATTA ATATGGAGGACAATATCATATGCTGCAACAGTCTTATAAAGTGGAATCAAATTGATA ATGTAGAAAAATATAAGGAATCTAATATTCAATCTGTTGTTAAGTTTTGGAACACAA AATATGATTATGTACTGGGGAATCCTCCTTGGGTATCTTTAAGTCGAAAGAATAAGA TGAATATAGAGGATGGATTGTTAAAGTATTATAGTGAAAATTATAATGGAAATACAT ATTTACCTAATTTGTATGAGTATTTTATAAAAAGGTCTATGGAAATATTAAAGCCGG GAGGAAGATTTGGATTTGTAGTTCCTGATAGGCTGTCACGAAATCTTCAATACAGTG AACTTAGAAAGAGTTTACTTGAAAATTATAATATATTAAATCTTGTGTTTGAGATAG ATTTTCCGGAAATAAACACAGATTCTATGATTATGATAGCAGAAAATAAACATAGA AAAGTAAATAAAATAGAAATAGATATTTATAAGAAGAGGACATATGAAATGTATCA GCATGAATATCTGAGAAATTCAAAATTTAAGTTTACATATTGTTGTTATAATCAAAA CTTAAGCATAAAGGATTGTATAGAGAAAAATAGCAGCAAATTAAAAAGCATTTCCA AGACTTTTACAGGATTTATAGGTTATAGTAAAAAAATAACTCCTGTTAAAAAAAATC AACATCAGGTTGAAGTATTAAAAGGGGAAAATATAAAAAAGTTTCGAGTTTTAAAC AATTACTATTATGATTTTGTGCCTGAAAACATAATAGGCGGAACTAAAAATATAGAA AAACTTACTTTTAAAAATAAATTAGTAATAAGGAAAACTGGAAAAAATTTAATAGC AGCTTTAGATGATAAGGGACGTATAATAGAACAATCTCTATATGGAATAATAAGTA CAAATGAGGAATTTTCACCTCAGTATATTTTGGCAATATTGAATTCAGAGTTAATTC AATGGTATTATTTAAATTTTTTAATTACCAACTCTAATTCTATTCCACAAATTAAAAA ATGCAATTTGGATGAAATACCAATAAGACATTGCAGCAGACAAGCTAAAGAAGACA TAGAAAAATTAGTTTGCAAAATTATAAATGATAATGATCAAAAAAATATGTTGAAG AAAATATTAGATGATGAGATATTTGAATTATATAATATTGATCATAATTATAGAAGA ATTATATTAAATGATATTGAAAATAA 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of generating a bacterial recombinant cell expressing a DNA Type I methyltransferase having biological activities, comprising: (a) introducing a methylation vector into a bacterial host cell wherein said methylation vector expresses a DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide, wherein the DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 97% sequence identity with the polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 97% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 3, and a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 98% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) introducing a transforming vector into the bacterial host cell wherein said transforming vector comprises plasmid DNA that is methylated by said methylation vector; and (c) purifying and transferring the methylated plasmid DNA from the bacterial host cell to a second bacterial recipient cell that can degrade the plasmid DNA but which cannot degrade the methylated DNA.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the DNA Type I methyltransferase polynucleotide is expressed from an operably-linked promoter.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the operably-linked promoter is phosphotransacetylase-acetate kinase operon.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bacterial host cell is Escherichia coli.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second bacterial recipient cell is Clostridia.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the methylated plasmid DNA is transferred from the bacterial host cell to a second bacterial recipient cell by transformation.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein transformation is electroporation or conjugation.
 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising isolating stable bacterial transformants containing the methylated plasmid DNA.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising introducing a shuttle vector into the bacterial host cell.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the shuttle vector is pACR-1.
 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising introducing a conjugation vector into the bacterial host cell.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the conjugation vector is pACC-1. 